LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Farmers in southern New Mexico are hoping for more snow this winter as they try to recover from what was a historically dismal irrigation season in 2013.

Snowpack levels in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico will be closely watched in the first part of the year. So far, they’re better than last year.

Phil King, the water engineer for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, told the Las Cruces Sun-News (http://bit.ly/1l1t1G1 ) that despite the early snow, there’s no indication this season will offer anything close to a full supply of water.

A federal report released Monday showed the Upper Rio Grande Basin was around 90 percent of normal for this time of year. Login to read more